Backing board handling system



J. S. STELZER Nov. 28, 1967 BACKING BOARD HANDLING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1964 INVENTOR. Zel

JZzmeaSS J. S. STELZER Nov. 28, 1967 BACKING BOARD HANDLING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1964 Nov. 28, 1967 J. 5. STELZER BACKING BOARD HANDLING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed Aug. 13, 1964 Nov. 28, 1967 .J. s. STELZER BACKING BOARD HANDLING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 13, 1964 United States Patent Ofiiice 3,354,610 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 3,354,610 BACKING BOARD HANDLING SYSTEM James S. Stelzer, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor to Peter Eckrich & Sena, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Filed Aug. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 389,356 9 Claims. (Cl. 53-128) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A system for applying backing U-boards to envelopes containing articles, including a conveyor for carrying backing boards from a receiving station for receiving the board blanks and initially bending and holding opposing edge flaps of the boards upward, through first and second folding stations in which a system of blocks and plows first creases the flaps in upright position for receiving an enveloped article and then folds the flaps over the envelope edges, and then through a sealer for bonding the envelope edges between the flaps and adjacent portion of the U-board.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling backing boards in packaging systems in which a backing board is applied to the envelope of an enveloped article. This invention more particularly relates to apparatus for use in the handling of backing boards for application of the backing boards to envelopes, e.g. envelopes which may contain a stack of sandwich meat, cheese, or the like, and for securing the applied backing boards to such envelopes.

In recent use, it became more and more common to package food items for storage and display by sealing the food items Within an envelope and thereafter applying the envelope to a backing member to provide still."- ness in the packaged product. Such items as sandwich meats, cheese, bacon, sausages, and the like, are often packaged in transparent plastic envelopes or similar containers and backed with a backing board so that the envelope contents remain visible through the transparent envelope. Such containers permit self-service marketing of many items where an attendant was previously needed while still permitting the consumer to visibly examine the contents of the package without directly contacting such contents prior to purchase of the package.

Exemplary of the backing boards which have been put to use for backing envelopes are those backing boards having edge flap portions along edges of the backing r board backing surface which can be folded over envelope edges and adhesively secured to the envelope. Where edge flaps are provided along two opposite edges of the board, such backing boards are termed U-boards. U- boards are described, for example, by J. S. Stelzer, US Patent No. 3,215,333. The U-boards not only give the package a degree of rigidity but also give protection to the package by covering envelope edges which may otherwise become frayed or torn. In one form of the U-board, additional flaps are provided upstanding from the flaps folded over the envelope edges for shielding sides of the package from puncture, or the like.

In an especially advantageous form of package, the envelope includes a formed web comprising the envelope top and side walls and a generally flat unform web comprising the envelope bottom wall. The two webs are sealed peripherally of the article in the plane of the unformed web providing a peripheral sealed flange extending outwardly from the envelope side and bottom Walls generally in the plane of the bottom wall which includes the surface of the envelope to be backed. Opposing portions of the sealed flange or envelope edge are folded against the envelope bottom along two sides of the envelope prior to assembling with the U-board. During assembly, the unfolded portions of the envelope edge are secured between the U-board flaps and the U-board backing surface. In the resulting package, the folded flaps are generally in or very near the plane of the U-board, i.e. the package bottom, to provide a neat and well assembled package which remains intact and which may be stacked to reasonable heights without sliding from other similar packages in such stacks. Backing boards, especially those of the U-board type, have been applied manually or handled manually for application to enveloped food items.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus which is useful for the purposes herein described.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for handling backing boards, especially of the U-board type, for delivering the backing boards in a proper form for receiving an enveloped article of manufacture.

Still another object is to provide a new and useful system in which backing boards are delivered to and through a zone in which an enveloped article may be placed on the backing board and thence through a zone in which the envelope is secured to the backing board, where the envelope may contain food items such as a stack of sandwich meat, or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a new and useful system in accordance with any of the foregoing objects in which a backing board is delivered to a conveyor at a receiving station, is folded to a configuration suitablefor receiving an envelope, is further folded for sandwiching a portion of an envelope between portions of the backing board and is then subjected to an operation for securing the backing board to the envelope while the envelope is in such sandwiched disposition.

A further object is to provide a new and useful system in accordance with one of the foregoing objects in which backing boards are delivered from a supply to backing board receivers on a conveyor as the receivers are carried through a receiving station with the delivery being provided in timed relation With respect to the arrival of the receivers at the receiving station.

Another object is to provide a new and useful apparatus including a receiving station and conveying system which is especially useful where it is desired to apply to an envelope a U-board having fold lines defining edge flaps along edge positions of a central backing surface, in such manner that the flaps may be used to hold 0pposite edges of an envelope by folding the flaps upon the backing surfaces of the U-board with such envelope edges between the flaps and backing surface and securing the flaps and backing surface to the envelope.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an apparatus exemplifying the present invention, with portions of the apparatus removed for clearer illustration of other portions;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section generally along the center line of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region indicated by line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a card transferring or feeding system for feeding U-boards from a stored stack to a conveyor;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of a portion of the system of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section and view along line 1111 of FIG. 7.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present dis closure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus illustrated is especially adapted for handling backing boards of the U-board type. Before describing the apparatus and its operation, attention is directed to FIGS. 7 through 11 where a backing board of the U-board type is shown and identified by reference numeral 15. Backing board 15 includes a central backing portion 15a of sufficient extent to back the envelope to be applied to the backing board. Scored fold lines A define opposite edges of backing surface 151: and also define flaps 15b beyond the edges of the backing surface. The flaps 15b may include additional or outer flaps 15c defined between scored fold line B and the outer edges of flaps 15b.

In using the U-board type backing board for backing an envelope, the envelope is disposed on surface 15a with the peripherally sealed edges of the envelope extending approximately to fold lines A. Preferably the sealed envelope edges are provided generally in the same plane as the envelope bottom surface, as described in the above mentioned U.S. Patent No. 3,215,333. The flaps 15b are folded over the envelope edges and are secured to the envelope by adhesive or other means. The flaps 15c, upon engagement with the envelope walls backed by the article, may fold upward from fold line B as protecting sides for the resulting package. The remainder of the peripheral edge of the envelope may be tucked beneath the envelope between envelope and backing surface 15a prior to folding and securing flaps 15b. The supporting surface 15a may also be secured by suitable means, eg adhesive, to the bottom surface of the envelope and to the folded under portions of the envelope peripheral edge.

Turning now especially to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, the form of system illustrated comprises a plurality of working zones for handling a U-board type backing board during assembly of an enveloped article with the backing board. Accordingly, there is provided a backing board supply system in the form of a U-board stack holding device 21 which holds a supply S of U-boards. A conveyor 22 is provided for conveying U-boards from a receiving station through a plurality of subsequent zones as will be described. A U-board transfer system 23 comprises suction means for removing the backing boards one at a time from the holding device 21 and for transferring the removed backing boards to the conveyor 22 at a backing board receiving station 24.

The receiving station 24 includes structure for bending the U-board flaps generally upward and holding the flaps in an upward disposition. Conveyor 22 moves the U- boards with bent flaps from the receiving station to a first folding zone 25 in which zone the flaps are creased or folded in their upward disposition. The conveyor, which moves continuously in one direction, transfers the backing boards from the first folding zone 25 through a loading zone 26 (FIGS. 7 and 8), thence through a second folding zone 27 for folding the flaps over the envelope edges and a sealing zone 28 for sealing the flaps and backing surface to the envelope. Conveyor 22 discharges the resulting package product at a discharge end indicated at 31. The loading zone 26 is provided for loading each backing board conveyed therethrough with an envelope to be secured to the backing board. Loading at zone 26 can be automatic with envelopes fed to zone 26 in timed relation with the conveyor, although the specific loading Zone shown is useable for manual loading.

As viewed in FIG. 2, the right end U-board holding device 21 is supported from a table 33 by adpustable telescopic legs 36. Table 33 is in turn supported from the floor or other suitable surface by legs 34 and height adjusting or leveling turn screws 35. The U-board holding and feeding device may be, for example, a card feeder marketed as Thiele Engineering Co. Modified Model #9-70-1. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, the U-board holding device 21 includes a frame 37 for holding the stack S of U-boards and is of the gravity feed type for advancing the stack S to the left within frame 37, as seen in FIG. 2. The left end of the frame 37 is supported through cross braces 41 to a side frame 38 which is in turn supported from table 33.

It will be noted particularly with reference to FIG. 9 that the U-board stack holding device 21 is provided at its discharge end with a pair of spring clips 42 and fingers 43 for normally retaining cards against delivery from the discharge end under pressure of stack in device 21.

The conveyor 22 is mounted by shafts 44 which are in turn rotatably mounted through ball bearings 44a to suitable framework 49. On each shaft 44, a pair of sprockets 45 is secured for rotation therewith. Two endless chains 46 are supported by the sprockets 45 with each chain 46 running parallel to the other. A plurality of idler sprockets 47 are provided to maintain each chain 46 taut in conventional manner. For driving the conveyor, a drive system includes a drive sprocket 48 which is secured to shaft 44 for rotating shaft 44 and sprockets 45. Drive sprocket 48 is driven by a chain 51 from a sprocket 52 secured to shaft 53. Shaft 53 is mounted by suitable ball bearings 53:: to frame 49 and, has a sprocket 54 mounted near one end thereof. A chain 55 is provided for driving sprocket 54 from a variable speed gear box or transmission 56, driven by a motor 57. Thus, motor 57 drives conveyor chains 46 through the above-described drive system.

Frame 49 (see FIG. 6) supports a plurality of mounting bars 58 along the length of the illustrated system. A central longitudinal beam 61, having a package support surface 61a, is mounted to and supported by the mounting bars 58. Chains 46 are supported along beam 61 by support members 64 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) with chains 46 sliding thereover. Each of a plurality of pusher members 62 is secured to both chains 46 and is carried by the chains 46. The pusher members extend across the chains and are maintained generally perpendicular to both chains since both chains are of equal length and driven at the same rate. Each separate pair of pusher members 62 on chains 46 defines a backing board receiver or pocket 63 therebetween.

The transfer system 23 is provided for transferring U-boards from the U-board supply 21 to the pockets 63 of the conveyor 22 at a receiving station shown generally at 24. Transfer system 23 includes suction means for holding a U-board against the transfer system while the transfer system moves the U-board from the U-board supply S to the receiving station 24. Accordingly, referring especially to FIGS. 7 through 10, a plurality of four suction cups 67 are provided. Each cup 67 is mounted on one end of a rigid tube 68. Each tube 68 is secured by bracket means 71 for rotation with a shaft 72. The upper end of each tube 68 is connected by a hose 76 to a suction manifold 77, also mounted to shaft 72. A suction line 78 extends from manifold 77 to a valve 95 (FIG. 2).

A pair of brackets 73 mount a pair of blades 74 also for rotation with shaft 72. Each blade 74 includes a conventional slot and bolt system 75 rendering the blade 74 adjustable upwardly and downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 9, and at various annular dispositions. The lower footlike flanges of blade 74 should be generally aligned with the lower ends of suction cups 67, as viewed in FIG. 9.

Shaft 72 is rotatably mounted at each end to one or 'the other of a pair of arms 81. Arms 81 are in turn mounted on a shaft 82 (FIG. 2) which is rotatably mounted to suitable framework such as side frames 38. A crank 83, having spaced cam followers 84 and 85, is secured to one end of shaft 72 beyond arm 81. A cam slot 86 is provided in a cam plate 87 which is secured to one side frame 38 with followers 84 and 85 riding in slot 86. The cam slot 86 is configurated to permit follower 84 to follow in slot 86 through an arcuate portion 86a as shaft 82 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 until suction cups 67 and blades 74 are lifted by the action of shaft 82 pivoting arms 81 upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 9.

Once the suction cups and blades are removed from the receiving station, in which they are shown disposed in FIG. 9, the cam follower 85 enters a turn-around slot 89a in a cam member 89, secured to plate 87, and is diverted to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, with follower 84 tracking slot 86, thereby pivoting shaft 72 counterclockwise. Follower 85 proceeds into the turn-around slot 89a, and further pivoting of shaft 82 causes follower 84 to proceed from the arcuate portion 86a to follow an arcuate portion 86b of slot 86, thereby continuing to pivot shaft 72 until cups 67 and blades 74 are brought into contact with a U-board in stack S (see FIG. 9). Suction is applied to cups 67, as will be seen, and a U-board is sucked against cups 67 and blade 74.

Shaft 82 then reverses rotation and shaft 72 is moved through a counterclockwise arc, as viewed in FIG. 2. As cups 67 and blade 74 are moved away from the stack S of U-boards, the first U-board of the stack is held by cup 67 and is withdrawn therewith, overcoming spring clips 42 and withdrawing the card from beneath fingers 43. The follower 84 proceeds through slot portion 86b and follower 85 engages into turn-around slot 890; fol lower 84 proceeds into the arcuate portion 86a of slot 86 to return blades 74 and suction cups 67 through the position of FIG. to the position of FIG. 9 carrying a U-board into a pocket 63 which is disposed by the conveyor 22 at receiving station 24. Follower 85 has disengaged from slot 89a.

The shaft 82 is driven through a crank link 88 (FIG. 2) by an arm 91 which is in turn driven by sprocket and chain 92 from a sprocket 93 and shaft 44. Link 88 is secured to an arm on one end of shaft 82. Crank arm 91 and link 88 drive the arm on shaft 82 first in one direction and then in the other for effecting the removal of cards from card supply 21 and the delivery of cards to the receiving station 24. Crank 91 rotates one revolution for each U-board delivery cycle of operation. The conveyor chains 46 are driven at a rate advancing one pocket 63 to station 24- each time crank 91 completes a revolution.

Valve 95 (FIG. 2) is provided in line 78 and is rotated by shaft 82 to move a port plate of valve 95 to a position connecting suction cups 67 with a vacuum pump 79 each time arms 81 are rotated to a position near the end of each counterclockwise movement of arms 81 (as viewed in FIG. 2) to cause suction cups 67 to hold a U-board against blades 74. At the end of each clockwise movement of arms 81, the port plate of valve moves to an- 6 other position venting the suction cups 67 to atmosphere for releasing the U-board at receiving station 24.

The backing board receiving station 24 is the station at which the backing board delivery system delivers a backing board to a pocket 63 defined between pusher members 62. Referring especially to FIG. 9, a pair of upstanding carnming plates 97 define the lateral extents of the station. Each of plates 97 is secured to a channel frame 99 along the conveyor. Each frame 99 is secured to the beam 61 and includes an inwardly disposed surface 99a which serves as a support surface for a portion of the U-board. Channel frames 99 terminate short of the sealing zone 28, but angle frame extensions 98 from frames 99 span the gap to extend the support surfaces 99a to the infeed of the band sealers. Each camming plate 97 includes an inwardly and downwardly inclined surface 97a for engaging the flap portions of the U-board beyond fold lines A as the U-board is lowered into the receiving station by the U-board delivery system.

After a card has been removed from the stack S, it is moved by the U-board delivery system to a position above the backing board receiving station 24. During such delivery, the U-board is held against blade 74 by the suction cups 67. The U-board is delivered at station 24 to a pair of raised platform members 101, one of which is secured along each side of the conveyor at delivery station 24 to support respective side surfaces of the U-board. The 'U-board is released during delivery in a plane above the top surface of pusher 62 and is supporter by the support members 101 at the outer edges of the U-board while the blades 74 and suction cups 67 are withdrawn from interference with the conveyor.

As the U-board is lowered onto support members 101, the flat portions of the board engage surface 97a,

- are bent upward and then snap outward beneath the entry lip of a snap receiver 971) so that the U-board edges are held in snap receiver 97b and the U-board will not leave station 24 when the cups 67 and/or blades 74 reiease the board.

The conveyor chains 46 are continuously driven. The U-board remains supported by support members 101 until the wiper extension 62a on the trailing pusher 62 of the pocket 63 in which the U-board is to be disposed engages the trailing edge of the U-board and pushes the front edge of the U-board against and along surface 102a of block 102. Surface 102a plows the U-board down into the bottom of pocket 63. Thus, the vacuum cups are able to release and retract to move the pushers before the U- board is contacted and moved by the pusher in the direction of movement of the conveyor.

The plow blocks 162 are mounted on each side of the conveyor, and driving of the U-board against surfaces 102a and beneath the blocks 102 results in folding the -board along fold line A. 7

Blocks 192 are secured at their upper edges to mounting plates 103 which are in turn secured to and supported from frame 99, with block 102 spaced inwardly from mounting plate 103 a distance suflicient to permit free passage of the U-board fiap 15b therebetween. Blocks 102 are suspended by mounting plates 103 slightly above support surface 99a which is continuous throughout the length of zones 25, 26 and 27.

At the discharge end of the first folding zone 25, a length of conveyor is provided with an open top portion giving complete access to the U-boards in the pocket 63, defining the loading zone 26. In loading zone 26, sealed envelopes containing food items, such as sandwich meats, are placed on the U-board surface 15a. Preferably the leading and trailing edges of the envelope are folded under prior to placement on surface 15a while the lateral edges are left unfolded to lie on surface 15a adjacent the flaps 15b.

After the conveyor continues to convey the U-board from zone 26, the U-board, having an envelope disposed thereon, is pushed through the second folding zone 27 in which a flap receiving inverted channel 104, one secured to a side plate 106 at each side of the conveyor, receives each upstanding flap at a channel entry end 104a. Each channel 104 spans from station to station 27 and includes an inward opening through which a plow member 105 projects inwardly to plow the upstanding flap downwardly along fold line A, finally forcing flap 15b completely inward through opening 104k. Plow member 105 and side plate 106 are secured to frame 99 and supported thereby. As the flap is plowed inwardly, the edge of opening 10417 may tend to fold the flap portion 150 along fold line B. Plow 105 plows the flap 15b completely against the outwardly projecting edge of the envelope which is backed by backing portion 15a and support surface 99a.

The resulting folded U-board and envelope assembly, with both side flaps 15b folded over opposite envelope edges, is fed from the exit end of plow 105 directly to the sealing zone 28. In sealing zone 28 there is provided a heal-sealing unit 108 supported by suitable means, such as table 50 shown in FIG. 2. Table 50 is also provided with height adjustment or leveling devices a similar to devices 35 on legs 34 of table 33.

The heat sealing unit 108 illustrated, in the form of invention shown, is a commercial heat-sealing unit identified as Doughboy, Model CBS-CH, Chain Band Sealer. The heat-sealing unit includes a pair of fiat steel bands 111 for each edge of the package to be sealed, i.e. four bands 111. The bands 111 are mounted on flanged pulleys, 112 through 119, which properly space the bands so that each lateral edge of the U-board and envelopeassembly is conveyed between a pair of bands 111 as the conveyor 22 moves the backing board and envelope assembly through the heat-sealing unit 108.

The heat-sealing unit is provided with a heating zone and a cooling zone, diagrammatically shown respectively at 122 and 123. The heating zone heats the upper and lower bands 111 which transfer the heat to the package edge to be sealed. The portion of the flap 15b and backing surface 15a in engagement with the lateral portions of the peripheral edge of the envelope have previously been coated, prior to placement in supply S, with a heatseal composition, e.g. thermoplastic, for sealing the backing member to the envelope. The heating zone 122 effects such sealing, and as the assembly is conveyed therefrom, it is carried through the cooling zone 123 which cools and sets the heat-sealed edges.

Each of the flanged pulleys is mounted on a separate shaft 124 for rotation therewith. Each shaft 124 is rotatably mounted by suitable bearings 125 to suitable framework 49 in the heat-sealing unit. The shafts 124, which carry flanged pulleys 112 through 115, have gears 126 at their outer ends, intermeshed for maintaining the speed of each band 111 generally the same. The shafts 124 mounting pulleys 114 and 115 are driven by sprockets 127, chains 128, and sprockets 131 from shaft 53 to pr0- vide timed drive of the bands 111 at the same linear rate as the conveyor chains 46 are driven.

At the discharge station 31 of the conveyor system, a pair of fingers 134 form a platform for receiving the finished product package from the conveyor. The package may be diverted to a roller conveyor or the like, or may be manually removed from fingers 134 as a finished product.

It will be noted that the system described herein is particularly adapted to handle U-boards for backing envelopes in which a peripheral seal is provided on the envelope as an outwardly projecting peripheral flange generally in the plane of the bottom surface of the envelope, i.e. the surface to be backed by the backing board. Although such a system is preferred, it is to be understood that various other envelope configurations and backing board configurations may be used, and that the device may be modified, as desired or needed, to accommodate such other envelopes or backing boards without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 claim:

1. A system for applying a backing board having the form of a U-board, with fold lines defining edge flaps along opposing edges of a central backing surface, to an enveloped article, which system comprises means providing a supply of U-board blanks, means defining a U-board receiver, means for moving a blank from said supply to said receiver with said receiver at a receiving station, drive means for driving said receiver for disposing said receiver at said receiving station to receive a blank as said moving means moves the blank to said station, means along each side of said receiving station for directing flaps of the blank to upward disposition along fiap fold lines to form a U-board, means for receiving the upwardly disposed fiaps for locking the flaps in upward disposition, first folding means for creasing the U-board flaps in their upward disposition, means defining an envelope loading zone for loading enveloped articles into a Uboard after folding of the flaps upward, second folding means for folding the up-folded flaps downward over the U-board backing surface with the envelope edges positioned between the flaps and backing surface, and heat seal means for heat sealing the flaps and backing surface and envelope therebetween along said fold lines, said drive means including means for continuously moving said receiver from said receiving station through said first folding means, loading zone, second folding means and heat seal means seriatim.

2. A system for applying a backing board having the form of a U-board to an enveloped article, which system comprises supply means for providing a supply of backing board blanks having fold lines defining edge flaps along opposing edges of a central backing surface, conveyor means having pockets for receiving the blanks individually at spaced intervals from said supply means and conveying formed backing boards away from said supply means toward a discharge end of the conveyor, moveably mounted suction means driveable through repeating cycles for removing a blank from said supply means and depositing said blank at a receiving station in one of said pockets during each cycle, means at said station for bending a flap of the blank to upward disposition along a flap fold line of the blank to form a backing board, common drive means for driving said conveyor and suction means in timed relation for disposing a pocket at said receiving station to receive a blank from said suction means, and form a backing board, first folding means for creasing the flap in upward disposition responsive to carrying of the blank therethrough by the conveyor means, and second folding means associated with said conveyor for folding the upfolded flap downward over the backing surface to the form of the backing board, said second folding means being spaced from said first folding means a distance along said conveyor defining a loading zone for loading of an envelope onto each blank carried on the conveyor through said zone after folding of the flap upward and before folding of the flap downward so that an envelope edge may be positioned between the flap and backing surface prior to folding of the flap against the backing surface.

3. The system of claim 2 including heat seal means for receiving the folded backing board edge defined by the folded flap from the second folding means for heat sealing the flap to the envelope.

4. A system for applying a backing board having the form of a U-board to an enveloped article, which system comprises supply means for holding a stack of fiat U- board blanks having fold lines defining edge flaps along opposing edges of a central backing surface, conveyor means having upper and lower reaches, means on said conveyor means defining an endless array of equally spaced receiver pockets, said conveyor means extending at its upper reach from a receiving station adjacent said supply means for carrying blanks away from said stack holding means toward a discharge end of the conveyor, moveably mounted means driveable through repeating cycles between said supply means and said receiving station for delivering a blank at said receiving station and including suction means for removing a blank from said supply means, bending the blank along said fold lines while introducing the blank into one of the pockets and releasing the folded blank at the receiving station in the pocket during each cycle, valve means for activating said suction means responsive to movement of said moveably mounted means to said supply means and for deactivating said suction means responsive to movement to said receiving station, means defining a loading zone beyond said receiving station for positioning envelopes in said pockets, folding means associated with said conveyor means for folding the blank flaps against the envelope and backing surface to the form of the backing board responsive to carrying of the blank in the pocket therethrough by the conveyor means, heat seal means including driveable endless heating bands for engaging folded backing board edges defined by the folded flaps and heat sealing said edges, thereby forming a hacked envelope product, and common drive means for continuously driving said conveyor, moveably mounted means, and heating bands in timed relation for moving said moveably mounted means to said receiving station for delivering a blank each time said conveyor positions a pocket at said receiving station and for driving said conveyor and bands at the same linear rate.

5. A system for applying a backing board having the form of a U-board to an enveloped article, which system comprises means for holding a stack of flat U-board blanks having fold lines defining edge flaps along opposing edges of a central backing surface, conveyor means having upper and lower reaches, means on said conveyor means defining an endless array of equally spaced U-board pockets, said conveyor means extending at its upper reach from adjacent said stack holding means for carrying U- boards away from said stack holding means toward a discharge end of the conveyor, moveably mounted suction means driveable through repeating cycles for removing a blank from said stack holding means and depositing said blank at a receiving station in one of said pockets during each cycle, common drive means for continuously driving said conveyor and suction means in timed relation for disposing a pocket at said receiving station to receive a blank from said suction means during each cycle of suction means operation, means upstanding along each side of said conveyor means for enclosing the sides of a pocket at said receiving station and for camming flaps of the blank to upward disposition along flap fold lines of the blank, means for engaging the upwardly disposed flaps at their upper edges for holding the flaps in upward disposition, first folding means associated with said conveyor means for receiving a blank from said engaging means and folding the flaps in their upward disposition responsive to carrying of the blank in the pocket therethrough by the conveyor means, second folding means associated with said conveyor for folding the upfolded flaps downward upon the backing surface in the form of the backing board, said second folding means being spaced from said first folding means a distance along said conveyor defining a loading zone for manual loading of enveloped articles into each blank in a pocket as the pocket travels on the conveyor through said zone after folding of the flaps upward and before folding of the flaps downward so that envelope edges may be positioned between the flaps and backing surface prior to folding of the flaps against the backing surface, heat seal means for receiving folded backing board edges defined by the folded flaps from the second folding means for heat sealing the flaps and envelope along said edges and for thereby forming a product U-board backed envelope, and means associated with said conveyor defining a discharge station beyond said heat seal means for discharge of the product therefrom.

6. A system for applying a backing board to an envelope so that the backing board has a flap portion folded to enolcse an edge portion of the envelope, which system comprises means for providing a supply of backing board blanks, each blank having a continuous backing surface and a fold line defining a flap beyond said backing surface, endless conveyor means, a plurality of spaced means secured to and carried by said conveyor means for defining backing board receivers at spaced positions therealong, each of said receivers including a bottom surface defining the extent of said backing surface, delivery means for receiving a backing board blank from said supply and positively delivering said blank at a delivery station into said receiver to a position with the backing surface portion lying in facial contact with said bottom surface, means associated with said delivery means fortengaging said flap during delivery and bending said flap along said fold line to an upwardly disposed position, means engaging the upper edge of said flap for locking the blank in the receiver while said conveyor moves said receiver from said delivery station, means for folding said flap upward at said fold line, means defining an envelope loading station at which the resulting folded backing board blank receives an envelope with an edge disposed on said backing surface adjacent said fold line, means spaced along said conveyor for receiving the loaded backing board blank and folding said flap downward along said same fold line and over the envelope edge to enclose the edge of the envelope along said fold line, and means for sealing the backing surface and flap of the resulting formed backing board to the envelope edge.

7. In a system for applying a backing board to an envelope wherein the backing board blank has a flap portion to be folded to enclose an edge portion of the envelope during application to the envelope, which system comprises means for providing a supply of backing board blanks, each blank having a continuous backing surface and a fold line defining a flap beyond said backing surface, and endless conveyor means for carrying the backing board blanks individually to a station for receiving an envelope having an edge, the improvement wherein said conveyor includes means defining a plurality of spaced backing board receivers each including a bottom defining the extent of said backing surface and wall means upstanding from the bottom, and wherein the system includes delivery means for receiving a backing board blank from said supply and positively delivering said blank at a delivery station into one of said receivers at said station to a position with the backing surface lying in facial contact with the receiver bottom.

8. The system of claim 7 including means associated with said delivery means for engaging said flap during delivery and bending said flap along said fold line to an upwardly disposed position and means for engaging the upper edge of said flap for locking the backing board blank in the receiver while said conveyor moves the receiver from said delivery station.

9. A system for applying a backing board to an envelope so that the backing board has a flap portion folded to enclose an edge portion of the envelope while forming the backing board from a backing board blank having a continuous backing surface and a fold line defining a flap beyond said backing surface, which system comprises: conveyor means having a receiving station and a discharge station and means for supporting and carrying backing boards at equally spaced positions therealong from the receiving station to the discharge station, delivery means for delivering backing board blanks intermittently to the conveyor at said receiving station to be carried to said discharge stations, means associated with said conveyor for folding the flap of the blank along said fold line to an upwardly disposed position, means defining an envelope I 1 1 2 loading station intermediate said folding means and said References Cited discharge station at which said folded blank receives an UNITED STATES PATENTS envelope with an edge disposed on said backing surface adjacent said flap, means intermediate said loading station 2884750 5/1959 fi S3" 2O9 and discharge station for receiving the loaded backing 5 2985076 5/1961 Toenmes 93-49 board and folding said flap downward along said same ROBERT RIORDON, Primary Examine-h fold line over the envelope edge to enclose the end edge of the envelope at said fold line with the resulting formed FRANK BAILEY Exammerbacking board backing the envelope. R, J, ALVEY, Assistant Examiner. 

9. A SYSTEM FOR APPLYING A BACKING BOARD TO AN ENENVELOPE SO THAT THE BACKING BOARD HAS A FLAP PORTION FOLDED TO ENCLOSE AND EDGE PORTION OF THE EVELOPE WHILE FORMING THE BACKING BOARD FROM A BACKING BOARD BLANK HAVING A CONTINUOUS BACKING SURFACE AND A FOLD LINE DEFINING A FLAP BEYOND SAID BACKING SURFACE, WHICH SYSTEM COMPRISES: CONVEYOR MEANS HAVING A RECEIVING STATION AND A DISCHARGE STATION AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND CARRYING BACKING BOARDS AT EQUALLY SPACED POSITIONS THEREALONG FROM THE RECEIVING STATION TO THE DISCHARGE STATION, DELIVERY MEANS FOR DELIVERING BACKING BOARD BLANKS INTERMITTENTLY TO THE CONVEYOR AT SAID RECEIVING STATION TO BE CARRIED TO SAID DISCHARGE STATIONS, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONVEYOR FOR FOLDING THE FLAP OF THE BLANK ALONG SAID FOLD LINE TO AN UPWARDLY DISPOSED POSITION, MEANS DEFINING AN ENVELOPE LOADING STATION INTERMEDIATE SAID FOLDED BLANK RECEIVES AN DISCHARGE STATION AT WHICH SAID FOLDED BLANK RECEIVES AN ENVELOPE WITH AN EDGE DISPOSED ON SAID BACKING SURFACE ADJACENT SAID FLAP, MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID LOADING STATION AND DISCHARGE STATION FOR RECEIVING THE LOADED BACKING BOARD AND FOLDING SAID FLAP DOWNWARD ALONG SAID SAME FOLD LINE OVER THE ENVELOPE EDGE TO ENCLOSE THE END EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE AT SAID FOLD LINE WITH THE RESULTING FORMED BACKING BOARD BACKING THE ENVELOPE. 